Breed of the week: the good German Shepherd

SFGate.com ^ | 4/17/09 | Amelia Glynn

[tapatio]

This was my dog Sophie.I lost her 8 months ago,after 13 years.She was the best dog I have ever owned.

This is Maggie.We rescued her from severe abuse,and even after all of that,this dog has a heart of gold

[mojo114]

Oh geez that is the cutest story. I can just picture your girl with you.
We have a german shepherd as a next door neighbor. The best neighbor ever!
When Kaiser barks we listen.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

I can actually hold a conversation with her. I tell her what to do in complete sentences and she does it ... spooky

That's happens with my dog, too. Sentences I had never said before and he does it.. It startles me sometimes.

I take her flying with me

What a lucky girl.. flying has to be every dogs dream!

[Mr Rogers]

My first dog was a German Shepherd/Border Collie cross - at least, the Mom was a BC and I'm GUESSING the father was a GSD. Awesome dog! Brains from his Mom, and brawn from his Dad. Good judgment from both sides.

[Gone_Postal]

while I don't have a German Shepard now I did as a kid and he was a great pet and friend...I had a Great Dane that past on last year his name was Sam...here is a pic of him

well I thought I would never want another but I now have Baily...

Baily is about 2months old in this photo...he is 5 months old now

[DaGman]

"...when we stood up to leave the back yard. The first one of us that moved got nailed."

The dog didn't want you to leave the "herd". That's what German Shepards were originally bred to do. They keep strays from leaving the herd. That's why the first one to try to leave got bit.

A bit too aggressive, though.

[Tanniker Smith]

I had two dogs in my life. The first was a German shepherd with Doberman markings, which I had from when I was 4 until my first year of college. Her name was Prince. (Don't ask.)

A few years later, we got a honey-colored shepherd named Honey. She was young, maybe a year or so. We didn't have her too long. Poisoned. They blamed anti-freeze in the street. We had other suspects in mind.

After I got married, there were no pets in either apartment I had.

[Fred Hayek]

My neighbor also has a German Shepherd that was rescued from severe abuse. Still, the dog is an excellent judge of character, and somehow has the innate ability to determine if a stranger likes dogs - which seems to be a characteristic of the breed.

[armymarinemom]

Thank you. You are the first to explain what the heck happened.

[the OlLine Rebel]

That’s why they’re called “Shepherds”. Can’t understand why no-one can make that simple connection.

[ExTexasRedhead]

PING

[goat granny]

Watching Border Collies work a flock of sheep is awesome. Unbelievable. A friend of mine got a Border when her old dog died and loves him..The herding instinct is so strong in the breed that she never trained him but he naturally herds the chickens into the coop every evening. She then locks up the coop...

[goat granny]

LOL would the term high energy be correct?

[goat granny]

Beautiful dogs both of them...it is really hard when you lose a long time companion.

[goat granny]

OMG I just noticed Baily’s feet..

[freekitty]

My Thunder. You know Thundy, don't you ExTexasRedhead. LOL

[ExTexasRedhead]

Pretty boy whose awesome and a champion!!!!

[Erasmus]

Reminds me. Whats black and brown and looks good on a lawyer?

[SkyDancer]

Yeah, she’ll hang her front paws over the passengers seat from the back (Cessna 152) and watch everything I do ....

[SkyDancer]

I read Rin Tin Tin when I was ten ....